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UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute’s Annual Women’s Wellness Day (WWD) is an inspiring day full of thought-provoking and informative speakers who share tools designed to empower attendees and enhance their personal wellbeing. This year’s theme is Healthcare Transformed, and leading researchers and healthcare professionals will offer clear guidance to help you on your whole-person health journey.
See the Digital Program for Key Takeaways from the speakers’ presentations.
Keynote Speaker
Tieraona Low Dog, MD: “Empowering Transformation: Healing from Within”
Founding Director, Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship, UCI SSIHI
Tieraona Low Dog, MD, is a physician, educator, thought leader, researcher, herbalist, naturalist, midwife, mother, and wife. She is the Integrative and Functional Medicine Fellowship Director at the UCI Susan Samueli Institute of Integrative Health. Her achievements are many. Dr. Low Dog received Presidential appointments under Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, was Time Magazine’s Innovator in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, is the recipient of four lifetime achievement awards, was named as one of the 30 most influential people in the natural products industry, written four books with the National Geographic, 50+ peer-reviewed articles, 25 chapters for medical textbooks, and has spoken at more than 600 conferences globally.
Speakers
Aly Cohen, MD: “Environmental Chemicals & Human Health: What We Can Do to Reduce Exposures”
Clinician, researcher & author
Founder, The Smart Human
Dr. Aly Cohen is triple board-certified in rheumatology, internal medicine, and integrative medicine, and she is an environmental health expert in Princeton, New Jersey. She is co-editor of the textbook “Integrative Environmental Medicine” and co-author of the bestselling consumer guidebook “Non-Toxic: Guide to Living Healthy in a Chemical World,” published by Oxford University Press, and part of the Dr. Weil Healthy Living Guides. Her new book will be available on Amazon in June 2024 and will connect the dots between everyday chemicals and the epidemic rise in immune disorders and autoimmune disease… and what we can all do about it! Dr. Cohen will speak at WWD about environmental health and toxin-free living.
Michael Kurisu, DO: “Wearables and Data Science in Integrative Medicine”
Founder, Measured Wellness
Michael Kurisu, DO, is an Osteopathic Family physician with extensive training in an array of hands-on techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of many different chronic disease states. The internal capacity to heal is the cornerstone of Dr. Kurisu’s approach to medicine. He has received training in both the alternative health field as well as conventional allopathic medicine allowing him to integrate all aspects of health as it pertains to each patient. Dr. Kurisu is a board certified in Family Medicine and board certified in Holistic and Integrative Medicine. He trained at UCSD and is founding faculty of the Center for Integrative Medicine at UCSD, as well as the Osteopathic Center San Diego. He applies evidence-based integrative therapies for management of complicated, chronic disease states and works closely with many different patients and health care practitioners in the community. He is also very interested in the future direction of medicine and has created the Measured Wellness Clinic to empower patients to take greater control of their health. He has also partnered with patients creating the 501c3 Precision Healthcare Ecosystem. Dr. Kurisu holds faculty positions and teaches at several different national and international medical schools. He thoroughly enjoys teaching, surfing, and spending time with his wife, two sons, and his dog. Dr. Kurisu will speak at WWD on health technology and wearable devices.
Shaista Malik, MD, PhD, MPH, FACC: The Heart and Brain Connection
Founding Associate Vice Chancellor for Integrative Health, Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences
Founding Executive Director, Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
Dr. Shaista Malik is a tenured professor in the UCI division of cardiology, department of medicine. She is the founding medical director of the preventive cardiology and cardiac rehab programs. Dr. Malik is the founding executive director of the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute and the founding associate vice chancellor, integrative health, of the Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences.
She has authored over 70 publications, co-edited two textbooks on preventive cardiology, and written over 20 book chapters. Her research efforts have had high impact with an h-index of 50 and garnering 29,779 citations. She has been recognized as an expert in cardiovascular imaging, with leadership roles in the American College of Cardiology’s Imaging Council, a standing member of NIH’s study section in cardiovascular disease, and a member of the oversight committee of the American Heart Association’s Strategic Focused Research Network. She has served on several editorial boards, including as section editor for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Imaging and Current Cardiology Reports. She is currently the associate editor for the Frontiers in Medicine, Precision Medicine journal and the associate editor for the Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine journal.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Malik specializes in integrative cardiology and precision health. Her excellence in clinical care has earned her recognition as a Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association and Southern California Super Doctors.
Ashley Koff, RD: “Better Nutrition: What Your Body Needs to Run Better”
Registered Dietician
Founder, The Better Nutrition Program
Ashley Koff RD is a 20+ year award-winning personalized nutrition expert. Koff’s a triple threat as a practitioner, consultant and speaker helping thousands get and stay healthy powered by better nutrition. Today, as the founder of The Better Nutrition Program, Koff leads a team developing cutting-edge personalized nutrition tools and programs to optimize health. Koff is also the author of two consumer publications: “Recipes for IBS” and “Mom Energy.” She will speak at WWD on the power of personalized nutrition.
Michael Leon, PhD: “The Solution to Memory Loss is Right Under Your Nose”
Professor Emeritus, University of California, Irvine
Michael Leon received his PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the professoriate at the age of 24. He is Professor emeritus in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California Irvine. He has received several awards for teaching, including Professor of the Year. He also received the Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute for Mental Health, the D.G. Marquis Award from the American Psychological Association, and the Healthcare Technology Acceleration Award from the California HealthCare Foundation. He is ranked by Stanford study among the top 2% of scientists in the world. Dr. Leon will speak at WWD on aromatherapy and memory.
Robert Bonakdar, MD, FAAFP, FACN, DAAPM:
“Aging Gratefully”
Director of Pain Management, Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine
Dr. Bonakdar has been the director of Pain Management at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine since 2002 and also serves as Volunteer Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. He is a Mayday Pain Fellow and editor of the Oxford University Press textbook of Integrative Pain Management. Prior to medical school, Dr. Bonakdar received a Richter International Fellowship where he studied acupuncture, Tai Chi and herbal medicine in Southeast Asia, elements which he brings to his current practice. After completing his residency, he completed a fellowship at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine/Scripps Clinic with a focus on integrative pain management. Additionally, Dr. Bonakdar is certified in headache management by the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialities, and board certified in Integrative Medicine by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Bonakdar has a special interest in nutrition and is a fellow of the American College of Nutrition and recipient of the 2020 ANA Mark Bieber Nutrition Award. As a family physician he is active in utilizing integrative medicine to optimize care for patients of all ages. He will be speaking on the role of integrative medicine for Healthy Aging.
Thank You to Our Marketplace Vendors
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
- Lisa Argyros / Argyros Family Foundation
- Laura Khouri & Michael K. Hayde
- UCI Health
Sponsors
- BJ’s Restaurants
- CHOC
- DeAnna & Michael Colglazier
- Sandi Jackson
- Lake Shore Travel
- Palmer Family Foundation
- Joy & Robert Penner
- Samueli Foundation
- Orange County Register
- South Coast Plaza
Would You Like to Sponsor a Future WWD?
Sponsorship benefits:
- Choice seating and swag bags for sponsors and their guests
- Tickets to VIP Happy Hour, including a speaker meet & greet
- Featured recognition on event signage, print materials, event emails, website, social media & livestream
Contact Jared Bigman at jbigman@hs.uci.edu for more information.